FEATURES
'Cellular' rings sour note with gimmicky, over-complicated plot
I once joked that many films' plot conflicts could be easily solved if every character simply had a cell phone.
FEATURES
LL Cool J's new album misses beat, lacks hard edge
At 36 years old, it's time for LL Cool J to put the weights down and retire from the music business.
FEATURES
Georgia-born musician ready to rock Union
The Union Ballroom won't be your average run-of-the-mill campus stop tonight, folks. Instead, the one-stop post office and snack mecca will be transformed into a rock 'n' roll concert venue when Michael Tolcher and Gavin DeGraw stop in East Lansing to get fans dancing and rock the socks off of campus music lovers. Tolcher, a Georgia native, plays music from the soul, blending piano, guitar, pop and R&B, with heartfelt lyrics to give audience members something to sing to.
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Rock your body
Welcome back to "Rock Your Body," The State News' fitness and nutrition column. Each week, we hit up our local experts with some questions and pass on their wisdom to you. But before we get to the goods, we thought we'd tell you a little bit about who'll be giving you advice. Jim Pivarnik: Jim is a professor of kinesiology and epidemiology.
FEATURES
French film offers look into vile human confrontation, love story
Americans tend to stereotype the French as rude. In reality, we're probably just miffed that the French know how to swear much better than we do. During one of "Jet Lag's" early scenes, a couple in the midst of a breakup trades insults so vile and hateful that I can't even allude to them in print.
FEATURES
Dave Chappelle to bring his stand-up to Breslin Center
When Dave Chappelle takes the Breslin Center stage on Friday night, some of his fans might not recognize him. He probably will not be donning one of the various braided wigs he uses to mimic the recently deceased Rick James and an inept, yet occasionally thoughtful, Lil Jon.
FEATURES
Professor helps 'U' theater prosper
Among classroom photos, dusty books and endless piles of paper, Lynette Overby sits and prepares plans for her 2-year-old arts program. One of the piles contains the theater professor's new list of selected MSU students.
FEATURES
Movie's racial jokes offend
Just when you think Hollywood has stuffed its terrible movie quota as far as it can go, surprise, it attempts to slip just one more past unassuming audiences. "The Cookout" is filmmakers' latest attempt to target black audiences by bombarding them with distasteful and offensive jokes about their demographic.
FEATURES
MPAA is making its feelings known to students who download
It's Saturday night, there's nothing good at the movie theater and, with five bucks in video store late fees, a rental is out of the question.
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An alternative remedy
Everybody gets sick from time to time. A cough here or a sneeze there will send most people on a trip to the doctor's office.
FEATURES
Low-carb diets are a nightmare
Low-carbohydrate diets are everywhere. Pick up a bag of Doritos, your favorite brand of yogurt or even a can of pop and you're bound to run into it.
FEATURES
New art gallery opens with pieces combining sound and vision
Naia Venturi wants to expose the world to her funky, alternate puppet-universe. The puppeteer is one of the many acts in the "Sound & Vision" exhibit at (SCENE) Metrospace, 303 Abbott Road, an experimental gallery located in downtown East Lansing.
FEATURES
'Vanity Fair' shows different side of Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon's agent deserves a round of applause. The actress, whether by her own choices or good advisement, has dodged the typecast bullet and managed to build a career by playing a variety of characters. She's a romantic comedy gold mine, yet no stranger to the dark side.
FEATURES
'Little Foxes' showcases strong acting, weak plot
Delivering cutting-edge lines and convincing performances last Friday, the Lansing Civic Players welcomed their audience to the first performance of the season.
FEATURES
'The Shore' rides the waves of Brit-rockers: The Verve, Oasis
What does one say about The Shore? For starters, their tunes are aesthetically pleasing for an American stab at Brit rock, but in that same moment when you're realizing The Shore sounds pretty darn good, you can't help but ask, "Haven't I heard this before?" Chances are, you probably have.
FEATURES
Rock your body
Welcome to "Rock Your Body," The State News' fitness and nutrition column. Each week we hit up our local experts with some questions and pass on their wisdom to you. But, before we get to the goods, we thought we'd tell you a little bit about who'd giving you advice. Jim Pivarnik: Jim is a professor of kinesiology and epidemiology.
FEATURES
San Francisco jam band to rock Mac's Bar on Saturday
If a little psychedelic rock is needed to soothe those first week, back-to-school nerves, then head to Mac's Bar, 2700 E.
FEATURES
Jimmy Eat World helps save world through AIDS, poverty campaign
Emo band Jimmy Eat World will swing into the MSU Auditorium on Saturday for the second time in two years to rock the pants off their fans and help launch a global campaign to fight AIDS and poverty.
FEATURES
'Anacondas' candidate for worst script ever, cheesier than cheddar
The biggest question raised in "Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid" is, will the monkey die?
FEATURES
Rappers go too far with energy drinks
Nelly has an energy drink these days. I don't know if you've heard. For the burgeoning player in need of a little pick-me-up, the St.